Dusting apparatus



March 12, 1946. R R ROOT Y 2,396,533

. DUSTING APPARATUS IN V EN TOR.

BY. /Pqmf/ f? /Poor- R. R. Roo-r DUSTING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1943 4Sheets-Sheet 2 m l 2j In?? u@ O .n.w-f-fl: i @fw U r Y n ,wl ff, ,f I rllll IIN' 'n Il vv.- 73 -Rffgf 2/ ,I -:f `22 Y# 72 5 f 22452;: `44 1"?ummfu @I I@ 150 HYYOPNWS March 12, 1946. R. R. ROOT DUSTING vAPPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 3 .BY /PQLPH 1 Poor Filed May 24, 1943 March 12, 1946. R.R. Roo-r 2,396,533

' DUsTING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1943 -rvSheets-S'heeil 4 Patented Mar.12, 1946 DUSTING APPARATUS Ralph R. Root, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor toThe Root Manufacturing Company,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 24, 1943, Serial No. 488,165

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for dusting withinsecticide and/or fungicide materials.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved dusting apparatusin which the feeding of dust from a container is accomplished in a moreeiiicient and satisfactory manner than heretofore and in which anaccurate and reliable control of the dust feed is obtainable.

Another object of this -invention is to provide a novel apparatus of thecharacter mentioned in which the feeding of dust through deliveryopenings of a dust container is obtained by agitating the dust adjacentsuch openings and simultaneously Vibrating the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dusting apparatus ofthis character wherein a dust-laden air blast is produced in which thedust particles are electrostatically charged to make them more adherentto the vegetation being treated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingsheets of drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing improved dusting apparatus of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with portions ofv the apparatus brokenaway;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is another transverse sectional view but on a larger scale andtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional View taken on line 5-5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is another partial longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an edge View of the fan;

Fig. 8 is a face view thereof;

Fig. 9 is an end view of a modified form of my dusting apparatus;

Fig. 9a is a partial vertical sectional view taken through the blowerhousing of another modified form of my dusting apparatus;

Fig. 10 isaa partial transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 4 butshowing a modified construction; and

Fig. l1 is a sectional view taken through the hopper and agitator asindicated by line I I-II of Fig. 10.

Proceeding with a more detailed description of my improved dustingapparatus, I show in the drawings a dust container or hopper IU adaptedto hold a quantity of insecticide and/or fungicide dust, or likematerial, and an air-flow creating means or blower II adjacent suchhopper. 'I'he apparatus also includes a frame or support I2 and aninternal combustion engine I3, or other suitable power device, foroperating the apparatus.

The support I2 may comprise a platform I4 on which the apparatus ismounted so as to enable the same to be conveniently moved ortransported. The hopper III and the blower II are preferably not mounteddirectly on the platform I4 but are supported by a framework formed byspaced longitudinal and transverse strips I5 and IE and a pair of spacedupright members I1. The upper ends of the members I1 are connected withthe housing of the blower II by the longitudinal boards or rails I8. Theblower II is bolted or otherwise secured to the platform I4 with thestrips I5 and I6 therebetween. The hopper I0 is not fixed or secured tothe platform I4 but is movably received within the opening 20 of theframework or crib formed by the members I1 and I8 and, for a purpose tobe more fully eX- plained hereinafter, is rockable on a transversefulcrum or roller 2 I.

The hopper I 0 comprises a box-like container having sides formed byfour upright non-metallic yboards or panels 22 which are connected bymeans of the corner posts 23. 'I'he bottom of the hopper is formed by asimilar non-metallic 0 board or panel 24 which slopes toward the hopperwall 22a which is nearest the blower II. A suitable cover 25 is alsoprovided to close the top opening of the hopper.

The blower II comprises a housing 21 and a centrifugal fan 28 operabletherein. The housing 21 is a box-like structure formed of wood boards orother non-metallic sheet material and is provided with an air intakeopening 29 located in the wall 21a and with suitably located deliveryopenings 3U, 3| and 32 for the discharge of dust-laden air. A dependingmember 29a is 1ocated in the blower housing 21 so as to provide acut-off point or baille for the fan 28 which enables the latter to forceair to the delivery openings 3! and 32. The fan 28 is carried by a shaft33 which is journaled in bearings 33a and 33h carried, respectively, bythe wall 21h of the blower housing and theplate or bracket 34 which ismounted on the wall 21a. The shaft 33 is driven from the power device I3by the belt I 3a.

As shown in the drawings, the blower housing 21 is mounted on thesupport I2 with a space 35 between the wall 21a of the blower housingand the wall 22a of the hopper I0. This space permits air or dust-ladenair to flow upwardly between the hopper and blower housing and to bedrawn into the blower housing through the opening 29. The dust-laden airis discharged by the centrifugal action of the fan 2S either through thedelivery opening 32 as shown in. Fig. 2 or through the delivery openingsil@ and 3l as shown in Fig. 9. For certain types oi dusting, such as inorchard work, it is desirable to use the delivery opening in which casethe openings fill and are closed by covers and a delivery conduit orvalve f ld against the baffle or cut-ofi menh C When the valve E .cryopening is close When a shift is to be opening 3l to the openi acties inthrough the opening conduit is disconnected theerornl and swings e valvedi to its broken. li position in which it closes the opening whichposition be held by the rotatable latch For feeding dust from the hopMer to the air stream created the blower E provide novel dust eedirTineens which opel-at i in a highly satisfactory manner and which bedescribed next. This dust feeding includes, one or more dust deliveryopenings provided in a side or upright wall 2@ o the hopper at a pointadjacent the bottom thereo. in `Figs. 3 and 4 l show the hopper l@ ashaving a row of such dust delivery openings G2 although the opening canbe in the form of the slot 'll shown rin Figs. 10 and ll. The openingsd2 are relatively small Opern ings, being in this instance on. the orderof 11s inch in diameter, although openings of larger or smaller size canbe provided depending upon the characteristics or" the dust beinghandled and the rate at which is desired to feed the dust.

The dust delivery openings cl2 can be formed directly in the wall 22a ofthe hopper but I prefer f to provide the hopper `with a depending troughIl@ extending along the lower edge of the wall 22a and to locate theopenings in a side Wall of this trough. The trough may be formed ofsheet metal or other suitable material and is incorporated in the hopperl@ so that it forms the lowest point thereof and will always be filledwith dust so long as any appreciable quantity of dust remains in thehopper. The slope of the bottom Ztl facilitates the movement of the dusttoward the trough fill.

l have discovered that the feeding of the dust from the hopper throughthe openings d2 in a highly satisfactory manner can be obtained byproducing a rapid vibratory relative movement between the hopper ill andan agitator located therein. Although the feeding of the dust can beobtained by imparting vibratory movement to either the hopper or theagitator, I find that much bettei` results can be secured by agitatingthe dust Within the hopper adjacent the delivery openings 62 andsimultaneously vibrating the hopper. For thus agitating the dust withinthe hopper, I pro vide an. agitator l5 located adjacent the hopper wall22o and adapted to be actuated or oscillated with a relatively rapidrotary or gyratory movement. The agitator fill is best shown in Figs. 1land 5 and comprises an elongated body formed of sheet metal or othersuitable material and being of a length corresponding substantially withthe depth of the hopper. Flanges lt formed on the agitator at the sidesthereoi and extending away from the wall .2Q-o serve to strengthen theagitator and also produce .an agltatlng effect on the dust in thehopper. .at its lower end the agitator is ci' a bladed construction,being provided in this inv stance with upper and lower sets or rowspending blades il'l and which are -disposed at substantially rightangles to the hopper wall and are spaced apart longitudinally of thetrough fifi. The blades :il and extend down into the trough lill, asshown in. Figs. and 5, the blades preferably extending only part-wayinto the trough. The blades ill are located at a lower point of theagitator than the blades it? and are offset toward the hopper wail 22o,so that they extend along the row of openings l2 immediately inironithereof.

The blades are formed by twisting or de rlecting portions of the metalof a plate or strip which. is attached to the body oi the agitator' withspacers Sii therebetween. When the blades are thus formed by delectingor twisting porn tions or" the rnembel- 39, spaces are left between theadjacent blades through which dust can read= ily pass to the openingsF12. The lower ends of the blades il are connected or bridged by a lonngitudinal strip iii which strengthens the blades and also produces anagitating effect on the dust. The bladesflll may be formed in a mannersimilar to the blades ll but in this instance are shown as beingsomewhat larger and less numerous than the blades il and as being formeddirectly on7 or integral with, the' lower edge of the body'oi theagitator fill. Since the blades il@ extend only part-way into the troughlll they serve to agitate the dust at this point and facilitate the flowof dust into the trough. The blades i8 can be omitted, if desired, inwhich case the blades @l would be formed on the agitator body as shownin Figs. l0 and 11.

In addition to the sets of blades Ill and the agitator l5 may also carryangularly disposed transverse flanges 52. ln this instance two suchflanges are shown on the agitator at dierent distances above the bladesThe flanges b2 exq ercise an important agitating function on the ldustduring the rotary or gyratory movement of the agitator.

For oscillating the agitator (l5 and vibrating the hopper l@ l provide ashaft 5t which is mounted in a suitable bearing 55 carried by the plateor bracket ill attached to the blower housing 2l'. This shaft haseccentric actuating portions 56 and 5l which cooperate respectively withthe agitator l5 and the hopper lli. The shaft titi also carries a pulleySil and is connected with an extension of the fan shaft by the belt 59.The eccentric shaft portion 5t engages in a bearingtt provided on theagitator adjacent its upper end and the eccentric portion 5l engages ina Suitable bearing bl provided in the wall 22a of the hopper.

When the blower il is operated the shaft 513 will be drivensimultaneously and the eccentric shaft portions llt and 5l will cause,respectively, a rapid oscillation or the agitator lil and a rapidvibration or vibratory rocking ci. the hopper Il@ on its fulcrum 2l.These actions, 0r a combination thereof, result in dust being fed fromthe hopper i@ in streams which are forcibly projected :,ssaass orsquirted laterally through the openings 42 into the space 35 where thedischarged dust is picked up by the stream of air beingdrawn into theblower housing. The dust thus discharged from the hopper is carriedalong with the air stream pivot 62a and their outer or remote endsconnected with the hopper wall 22a by the pivots B2b. The pivot 62aprovides a floating fulcrum for the agitator.

In my novel dusting apparatus the movement of the agitator 45 in thehopper causes the dust therein to be loosened and aerated, particularlythat portion of the dust which is adjacent and above the trough 44 andthe delivery openings 42. More or less of a circulating movement or flowis also imparted to the dust in the hopper by the agitation andvibration so that the dust is continuously maintained in a loose andunpacked condition. The rapid movement of the bladed portion of theagitator adjacent the delivery openings 42 causes the aerated dust to beforcibly proected through these openings in lateral streams as mentionedabove. The circulatory movement r flow of the dust in the hopper ID issubstantially a counter-clockwisev movement and to prevent such movementfrom packing the dust against the inner surface of the agitator 45, Imay provide a stationary upright baffle plate 53 in the hopper inwardlyof the trough 44, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, andv which is attached tothe hopper bottom 24.

To confine and direct the inflow of air to the blower ll so that it willflow upwardly as a stream into the space 35 between the blower housingand hopper. I provide a hood 64 which houses or encloses the shaft 54and belt 59 but is open at the lower end thereof. The upward flow of airinto this hood is facilitated by a curved plate or deilector 65 whichextends between the blower housing and the platform I4 and causes theinflowing air to sweep upwardly in front of the dust delivery openings42.

The feeding of the dust from the hopper I0 through the openings 42 canbe readily controlled by starting and stopping the movement of theagitator 45 and the vibration of the hopper. In other words the blowerIl can be operated continuously and the dust can beifed to the airstream intermittently by starting and stopping the movement of theagitator and the vibration of the hopper. This can be readilyaccomplished by controlling the delivery of power by the belt 59 to theshaft 54. One way of obtaining such control is by providing a belttightener 61 having an idler 58 engageable with the belt and a lever 69adapted to be manually swung for shifting the idler to loosen or slackenthe belt. When the feeding of dust is desired, the lever is actuated totighten the belt and when the feeding of dust is to be interrupted thelever is actuated to slacken the belt. Since the dust delivery openings42 are relatively small and are located in a side wall of the hopper, nodust will flow therefrom when the agitator 45 is at rest and the hopperis not being vibrated.

In addition to controlling the feeding of dust by the belt tighteningdevice, it may be desirable to also provide a cover or valve plate whichis slidable on the trough 44 and is adapted-to be moved by the manuallyoperable rod 'H for uncovering a desired number of the holes 42.

An important feature of my invention is the charging of the dustparticles with electricity and through which certain new and improvedresults are obtained. The charging of the dust particles withelectricity causes them to be attracted to, and to adhere to, the plantsor vegetation being treated. This is very important because many of thedust particles which would otherwise settle to the ground are broughtinto contact with the vegetation and adhere thereto. Likewise manyparticles which would otherwise readily drop from the vegetation afterstriking the same will, when electrically charged, adhere to suchvegetation. Another important result derived from the charging of thedust particles with electricity is that the particles in the dustladenair stream repel each other and a better diifusion and distribution ofthe dust particles throughout the air stream is obtained.

For the purpose of electrically charging the dust particles, I constructthe blower housing 21 of wood or other non-metallic material, as aboveexplained, and also construct the fan 28 of wood or other non-metallicmaterial. The rapid movement of the fan in the blower housing and theresulting beating or agitation of the air stream and dust particlesresults in the particles being electrically or electrostaticallycharged. Since there are very few metallic parts embodied ln the blowerIl and there are no metallic parts providing a continuous groundconnection leading from the blower, it will be seen that the electricalcharge imparted to the dust particles will be retained thereby toproduce the above described benecial effect.

It will be noted from Figs. 7 and 8 that the fan 28 is of a novelconstruction and one which I have found to operate very efficiently andsatisfactorily in the blower housing 21. The fan 28, as mentioned above,is formed o1' wood or other non-metallic material and comprises aonepiece body having a hub portion 28a and blades 28h extending inopposite directions from the hub portion. The blades 28h are bent orcurved so that their outer ends or tips are inclined forwardly in thedirection of fan rotation. As shown in Fig. 8, the fan 28 is ofsubstantially vthe same width from one blade tip to the other. This fancan be sawed or otherwise cut from a slab of wood or other suitablematerial and, as shown in Fig. '7, the opposite faces of the hub portion28a may be substantially flat parallel faces which are substantiallytangent to the curved backs of the blades 28h. The hub portion has ashaft receiving opening 28e and a key 28d by which the fan can bemounted on the shaft 33. A transverse slit or cut 28e in the hub portion28a permits expansion of the opening 28e for mountingr the fan on theshaft after which the clamping 4bolts 28j can be tightened for retainingthe fan on the shaft.

In Figs. 10 and 1l I show a modified construction for the dustcontaining hopper and the agitator therein. In this modifiedconstruction the wall 14 of the dust-containing hopper l5 is providedwith a trough 16 along the lower edge thereof, as previously described,but instead of the trough being provided with a series of dust deliveryopenings as in Fig. 4, I provide the trough with a laterally extendingslot 'l1 which, in this instance, is approximately lg inch wide. The

.width and length of this slot can be varied according to the rate offeed desired and the characteristics of the dust being used. More orless of the slot 11 can be uncovered by swinging a control valve orplate 18 downwardly by an actuating handle 19 connected therewith.

The agitator 80 located in the hopper just inwardly of the wall 14comprises an elongated member generally similar to the agitator 45 buthaving only one row of spaced depending blades 8| at its lower end. Theblades 8l extend into the trough 16 so Ias to be movable back and forthin front of the slot 11. The blades 8l can be formed directly on thebody of the agitator or, as in this instance, can be formed on a strip30a. which is suitably attached to the agitatorbody. The lower ends ofthe blades are connected together by means of a wire or bar 82. A plate83 having end walls or flanges 83a is connected with the body of theagitator so as to form therewith a downwardly converging passage iidthrough which dust can pass to the spaces between the blades 8|. Atspaced points along the agitator corresponding with different distancesabove the trough 16 I provide the agitator with inwardly and upwardlyinclined transverse flanges B5, 36, 8l and 83. The anges dii and. ttextend for the iull width of the agitator @d but the flanges di and 8%extend for only approximately one-hali7 of the width thereof. Theagitator il@ may be of substantially uniform width, as shown in Fig. l0,and may have inwardly extending flanges ii@ along its side edges.

The agitator Si@ is actuated in the same manner as the above describedagitator 35, and, during such actuation, the above-described variousportions of the agitator cause aeration and loosening of the dust in thehopper iii. This agitation of the dust by the agitator titi incombination with the vibration of the hopper, causes a thin fiat streamor ribbon o dust to be forcibly dis charged or squirted laterallythrough the slot l.

l'n my novel dusting apparatus I have observed that the lateraldischarge oi the dust stream or' streams from the hopper opening oropenings takes place at a substantially constant rate in response to theactuation oi. the agitator and the vibration o the hopper and such rateoi discharge is substantially independent of the head or quantity ofdust contained in the hop per. This is very desirable because it insuresa proper supply of dust to the air stream at all times during theoperation of the apparatus. lt will be seen also that the actuation ofthe agitator in the hopper serves to break: up whatever lumps there maybe in the dust and because of the relatively small width of the dustdelivery openings or slot, lumps of dust cannot be discharged into theair stream but must remain in the hopper to be broken up by theagitator.

The non-metallic construction for the blower housing and' fan providei`or the charging of the dust particles electrostatically for betteradherence, as above explained, but is important or the additional reasonthat it is safer to operate particularly with sulphur-containingmaterials which are likely to be ignited when used in metallic dustersunless care is observed to see that such metallic clusters aresatisfactorily grounded. In my improved duster the total area of thefeed opening or openings is only about one sixtieth of the areaheretofore needed in dusters for the feed opening. The accurate andsensitive control afforded by my novel feeding means permits dust to bedistributed emciently even though the rate varies from one pound peracre to about seventytive pounds per acre. This accurate control makespractical and economical the use of more highly concentrated dustingmaterial which is very desirable in the present day treatment ofvegetation.

While I have illustrated and described my improved dusting apparatus inconsiderable detail it will be understood, of course, that I do not wishto be limited to the particular details herein disclosed but regard myinvention as including all changes and modifications comingy within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper adapted to containdust and having a substantially horizontally extending row of relativelysmall dust-delivery openings in a side wall thereof and adjacent thehopper bottom, agitating means in the hopper adapted to be moved rapidlyacross said openings, means for imparting movement to said agitatingmeans, and means for simultaneously vibrating the hopper, said agitatingmeans and vibrating means acting to cause substantially continuousstreams of dust to be projected laterally from said openings.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a

vhopper adapted to contain dust and having one oscillating meansconnected with the agitator v and cooperating with said iulcrum torimpart ing to said agitator a combined swinging and rising and fallingmovement.

3. In apparatusof the character described, a hopper adapted to containdust and having one or more dust-delivery openings in a side wallthereof, an agitator in the hopper adjacent said openings, a 'ioatingiulcrum for said agitator, oscillating means connected with the agitatorand cooperating with said fulcrum for imparting to said agitator acombined swinging and rising and falling movement, and means forsimultaneously vibrating said hopper.

ll. 'in apparatus or" the character described, a hopper adapted tocontain dust and having one or more dust-delivery openings in a sidewall thereof, means for agitating the dust in the hop per to produce afiow through said openings, said agitating means comprising a memberhaving a series of substantially at blades adjacent said openings andextending at substantially righi; an gles to said wall. and means foroscillating said member for moving said blades across said openn ings.

5. In dusting apparatus, a hopper adapted to contain dust and having aplurality of dust-de= livery openings adjacent the bottom thereof andextending through a side wall, means supporting said hopper forvibratory movement, an agitator iulcrumed in the hopper and having abladed por tion adjacent said openings, means for oscillating saidagitator to cause movement of its bladed portion across said openings,and means for simultaneously vibrating said hopper.

6. In dusting apparatus, a hopper adapted to contain dust and having aplurality of dust-delivery openings adjacent the bottom thereof andextending through a side wall, an agitator having a bladed portionadjacent said openings, said agitator also having upright and transverseflanges thereon, a floating fulcrum for said agitator, and oscillatingmeans connected with the agitator and cooperating with said ulcrum forimparting to said agitator a combined swinging and rising and fallingmovement for causing agitation of the dust in the hopper by said bladedportion and iianges.

7. In dusting apparatus, a hopper adapted to contain dust, a trough atthe bottom of the hopper, said trough having dust delivery openingsthrough a side wall thereof, an agitator in the hopper and having aseries of substantially flat depending blades extending into said troughadjacent said openings, and means for oscillating said agitator to causemovement of said blades in said trough.

8. In dusting apparatus, a hopper adapted to contain dust and having aplurality of dust-delivery openings adjacent the bottom thereof andextending through a side wall, an agitator having a bladed portionadjacent said openings, and a rotary shaft having eccentric meansadapted to oscillate said agitator and vibrate said hopper.

9. In dusting apparatus, a blower housing made of a material which doesnot conduct electricity and having inlet and delivery openings, a fanmade of a material which does not conduct electricity and operable insaid housing to cause a stream of air to ilow through said openings, anda hopper adapted to contain dust and to feed the same to the air streamentering said housing, said fan acting to impart an electrostatic chargeto.

the dust particles.

10. In dusting apparatus, a blower housing made of a material which doesnot conduct electricity and having inlet and delivery openings, a fanmade of a material which does not conduct electricity and operable insaidhousing to cause a stream of air to flow through said openings, saidfan having a non-metallic one-piece body comprising a hub and two bladesextending in opposite directions therefrom and said fan being ofsubstantially the same width from one blade tip to the other blade tipand said blades being curved forwardly in the direction of fan rotation,a hopper adapted to contain dust and having relatively smalldust-delivery openings in a side wall thereof at a point to projectstreams of dust into the air stream entering said blower housing,agitating means in the hopper adjacent said openings, means foractuating said agitating means, and means for vibrating said hopper,said fan acting to impart an electrostatic charge to the dust particles.

11. In dusting apparatus, a container adapted to contain dust and havingone or more dust-delivery openings adjacent the bottom thereof andextending through a side wall, means supporting said container forvibratory movement, an agitator in the container and having a bladedportion adjacent said openings, means mounting said agitator foroscillation for movement of its bladed portion transversely to saidopenings, and a driven shaft connected with said container and agitatorfor vibrating the former and oscillating the latter.

12. In dusting apparatus, a hopper adapted to contain dust and havingone or more dust delivery openings adjacent the bottom thereof andextending through a side wall, a blower having a housing, said housinghaving an air inlet opening located above said delivery openings andsaid housing being spaced laterally from said hopper toprovidetherebetween an air passage extending upwardly across said deliveryopenings to said inlet opening, means supporting said hopper forvibratory movement, an agitator' movable in said hopper adjacent saiddelivery openings, means for driving said blower to produce a ow of airthrough said air passage, and a driven shaft hav-= ing connections withsaid hopper and agitator for simultaneously vibrating the former andoscillating the latter, the vibration of said hopper and theoscillation` of said agitator acting to cause substantially continuousstreams of dust to be projected laterallyfrom said openings into saidair passage.

RALPH R. ROOT.

